Even a rider in their prime would struggle to do what Antonio Cairoli just did in the USA. Come in as a part-time rider with no racing since the MXoN in October and jump straight into the AMA Pro Motocross series mid-season and hover around the top ten straight away at Red Bud!
Cairoli showed the talent that got him nine world titles and, even at 40, he is still one of the top riders in the world. At Southwick he improved again and was running seventh until a bike problem, then in his third race in three weeks, Cairoli proved yet again why he is one of the best riders of all time, running fifth, right behind his teammate Justin Barcia until a couple of laps to go when a charge Haiden Deegan came by demoting the legend to sixth.
The fact Cairoli at 40 was battling Deegan at 20 for a top five position is, frankly, incredible and even Deegan showed some respect to Cairoli on Instagram for his performance. When Cairoli won his first world title, Deegan wasn’t even born and now the US star is battling the MXGP legend for a top five in 2026. Amazing!
Deegan has clawed all the way back to 4th! 🦾 @MonsterEnergy 450 moto 1 LIVE fueled by @fleet_farm 🎥 #ProMotocross #SMX #Yamaha pic.twitter.com/rjDaf2DdDI
— Pro Motocross (@ProMotocross) July 18, 2026
No other rider in the greatest of all time category has kept racing at this age, could Carmichael, Everts, Bayle, McGrath have done it? Maybe, but Cairoli is the one doing it and it is a pleasure to watch a champion be prepared to keep racing just for the love of it then get better and better as he adapts to the race intensity and once again runs in the top five.
Achievements like this should not go unnoticed and it is a pleasure to see one of the best ever still show his speed and class at this level. Cairoli wasn’t always appreciated in his prime in the USA but as the years have went on and Cairoli also raced more in America, everyone realises what a legendary champion Cairoli is and what a class act he is as a person.
He proved it once again at Millville that when that helmet goes on and the gate drops he still has the grit and the skills to battle with the elite riders of this era and do it on a still very new machine in the Ducati, that is still being fine-tuned to maximise it’s potential.
One image that stays in my mind is Cairoli chasing Roczen who was a few seconds ahead at the Ironman MXoN last year when they were 15th after issues in the moto for both, yet Cairoli was still fighting hard, gritting his teeth and marking Roczen on track, doing everything to try and get closer. The competitive spirit hasn’t went away no matter the position and that fight is why he has 94 Grand Prix wins and nine world titles plus a sixth place at 40 in the AMA Motocross series!
Cairoli said of his day: “Today was another tough day, but we completely changed the bike in a lot of areas compared to last weekend. From the first practice this morning I wanted to see if we could change direction and improve, and we definitely did. In the first moto I really enjoyed riding, but unfortunately, I got pushed off the track on the first lap, lost some positions, and had to work hard to recover. I feel like fourth or fifth was possible, but sixth was still a strong result. In the second moto I didn’t get a great start, tucked the front while trying to make passes, and another rider hit my leg and twisted my knee. I decided to stop because I didn’t want to risk making the injury worse. We’ve had three good races, and I wanted to head home healthy.”
We don’t get to see riders of his level racing at this level in their 40s, Cairoli is unique in that respect so enjoy eery chance to get to see one of the best to ever do it, show their skills at the highest level despite being 40 years old.
Confidence without ego, a huge love for the sport with a rare humility despite incredible talent and competitiveness, Cairoli just keeps adding to his legacy!
